Playgrounds

From the big city to the big lake, West Michigan is one huge playground!

Start in a literal playground - Millennium Park, one of the nation's largest urban greenspaces. Facilities include playground equipment, a beach, swimming lake, splashpad and nearly 20 miles of trails.

It's just four miles to John Ball Zoo, where you can see nearly 2,000 animals in play, ride a zipline, negotiate a four-story sky trail ropes course and ride a funicular to a treehouse offering panoramic city views.

Head 1.5 miles due the cultural playground of downtown Grand Rapids - and the interactive fun of Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Take the self-guided Outdoor Arts Inspirations tour. You'll see plenty of people at play along the way - fishing in the Grand River, swaying on a giant tire swing, frolicking in Ah-Na-Awen Park and more. Feel free to join in!

Bring your bike! Grand Rapids is nationally recognized for mountain biking and we have great traditional bike trails, too - many within minutes of downtown.

Bring your clubs! There are dozens of golf courses within a 30-minute drive. Just five minutes away from downtown is The Mines - a hilly, wooded course built over a network of old gypsum mines.

Bring your skis and snowboards! West Michigan plays just as hard in winter - at Cannonsburg Ski Area and Pando Winter Sports Park, both just 15 minutes from downtown.

Watch the pros at play! The Grand Rapids Griffins, a Detroit Red Wings affiliate, play hockey in downtown's Van Andel Arena, from October - April. When the weather gets warmer, cheer on the West Michigan Whitecaps, a Detroit Tigers affiliate, in a classic-style baseball stadium 10 minutes from downtown.

Hungry? Choose a restaurant that encourages you to "play" with your food - by sharing it with your tablemates. Several of our farm-to-fork restaurants offer extensive "shared plate" menus, including San Chez, A Tapas Bistro and The Winchester.

It's been an active day, how about relaxing with a late-night movie? IMAX® Theatre at Celebration! Village puts you in the middle of the action with huge, mind-blowing images and earth-shattering sound. It's surrounded by regular-format movie screens, restaurants and shopping.

Short Drive

One of the world's most unique playgrounds lies just 30-40 minutes west of downtown Grand Rapids. Play on the sugar-sand beaches or in the beach towns that dot the coast.

Also on the coast: Michigan's Adventure Amusement & Water Park, with 60+ thrill rides for all ages - including Shivering Timbers, one of the world's best wooden roller coasters.

Head 15 minutes north of downtown Grand Rapids to Rockford for fantastic canoeing, kayaking and tubing.

Tell us what playground adventures you'd add to this self-guided tour!